Liberal Christianity

Lesson 2: The Role of Scripture in Spiritual Practice

Scriptural Imagery

Do you think Jesus moved crowds by mere words, by mere citing of verses from the Hebrew Bible? Without images are words themselves sufficient to move the heart and evoke in the soul a desire for action or change?

The nature of Jesus’ relationship to the Father was not driven by mere words or written scriptural verses. Yet it seems that most of us try to relate to Jesus thru blind reliance on mere words. How can we ever emulate Jesus if we attempt to place so much trust on mere wordage? Are we not attempting to live as if Jesus’ words were nothing more than a recipe from which all creative thinking has been banned?

What Jesus had to say and how he related to the Father can only be understood thru the imagery evoked by His words and acts. As you enter into the gospels of the New Testament, paying attention to Jesus – his words and actions – what voice do you hear?

There is no controversy about the fact that the Bible is a spiritual document. There is controversy about whether or not every word in the Bible was written with clear purpose, pure intent and without guile. We have 2000 years of history in which much from the Bible has been used by “authorities” with deliberately unclear purposes, seriously lacking in purity of intent and totally with guile.

The images created in our minds as we read of the actions taken in the name of God by religious officers over all of these 2000 years will more powerfully evoke feelings than the mere words in historical accounts. Whether we speak of crusades, inquisitions and witch trials, as contrasted by martyrdoms, incredible acts of faith and sacrifice, of love and devotion, it is the images that provoke feeling.

Hollywood movies with images from the life of Jesus or Moses touch us more thoroughly than does film dialogue. Television images of being touched by angels contrasts mightily with news stories of betrayal and hypocrisy at the hands of abusive priests or scandalized evangelists.

Words of themselves do nothing. The Spirit does not move one feather because of a word. However, if the word evokes an image, the spirit can then move feelings.

Exercises:

1. Read the Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 11:15-32)

2. Leaving out what you already think you know or believe based on tradition and doctrine, write out an interpretation of this parable that reflects what you think Jesus was trying to teach people without the advantage of 2000 years of Christian doctrinal evolution.

3. Read the Song of Solomon- all 8 chapters. (They’re short and the reading may run 4-6 pages.)

a. Some Christians are quite uncomfortable with this book, considering it almost pornographic. Yet one must ask, "If the Bible is the inerrant Word of God why did God include this book with its heavy sensual overtones?”

b. Some Christians have dealt with the tone and style of this book as a description of the passion of God for his people or of Jesus for his church. Can you agree? Why or why not?

c. Some Christians (of the more liberal ilk of course) view this inclusion in sacred scriprutre as a celebration of human love and recognition of our God-given natural state with all inherent passions. The Song of Solomon might even be an ode to the human yearning for God. Can you agree? Why or why not?

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